16 Black TV Shows We Should Have Never Let Happen

We watched a lot of TV in the 90s and 2000s, but not every show stood the test of time. There were some sitcoms we watched week after week, faithfully, say, back in 1997. But when we watch now, it’s like, what were we thinking?

Here are 16 shows that we should have never let go on for too long.

For Your Love (1998-2002)

For Your Love was a show about three couples learning the ins and outs of their relationships. It makes sense that NBC tried to get in on all the relationship shows that sprouted in the 90’s, but this just wasn’t a good one. Although it starred TV vets Holly Robinson Peete, Tamala Jones and James Lesure, it wasn’t memorable even after it switched networks to The WB. How did this last for five whole seasons?

Malcolm & Eddie (1996-2000)

Malcolm & Eddie was the buddy-buddy comedy we never knew we needed, but after watching we know we actually didn’t need it at all. But since it starred Malcolm Jamal-Warner, who we missed dearly from The Cosby Show, we watched loyally. But his Odd Couple story with Eddie Griffin just wasn’t funny.

Smart Guy (1997-1999)

A show with Tahj Mowry, Jason Weaver, Essence Atkins, and Omar Gooding sounds great in theory. But when you’re watching three seasons of Tahj being an egghead know-it-all, it got tired. Just go to college already, man.

The Parent ‘Hood (1995-1999)

Who knew this show lasted for that long? It had a great premise, and showcased an educated, Black family living in Harlem, so it could have taken over where The Cosby Show left off. But it didn’t. If you watch the show in 2015, though, you see a man trying to escape the pressures of his family through his overactive imagination. The show’s bright spot: Reagan Gomez-Preston.

Family Matters (1989-1997)

How did we let this show continue for nine whole seasons? The first few seasons of Family Matters were golden. You had a nuclear Black family with some extended family members in the mix. It was all good, because you had kids in school learning valuable lessons. But then one of the kids, Judy, disappeared without a trace. Aunt Rachel left and never came back, but she left Cousin Richie. That’s when things got weird for the series. Steve Urkel (played by Jaleel White) transformed into Stefan Urquelle (and even Bruce Lee). There were teleportation pads. Steve was in space… like, what was going on? Once the show moved to CBS the original Harriet (played by JoMarie Payton) was replaced by Judyann Elder. There’s barely any classic episodes from a show that lasted almost 10 years, and that’s a shame.

Half & Half (2002-2006)

Half & Half was like Sister, Sister but they were half sisters who knew each other. Mona (played by Rachel True from The Craft) was raised mostly by her mother (played by Telma Hopkins), and her father got remarried and had another child, Dee Dee (played by Essence Atkins) and raised her as a family. When they get older, they live in the same apartment building and you see them clash due to their differences. Not a bad premise, right? It wasn’t, it was just a corny show.